A healthcare worker has tested positive for Nipah virus in Kozhikode (Representative)
Kozhikode:
Kerala Health Minister Veena George confirmed another case of Nipah virus on Wednesday, taking the total number of infections in the state to five. A 24-year-old healthcare worker at a private hospital in Kozhikode has been diagnosed with the virus, the minister said.
Currently, 706 are on the contact list, of which 77 are in the high-risk category, while 153 are healthcare workers. No one in the high-risk category is currently showing symptoms.
As many as thirteen people are currently under observation in hospital and are showing mild symptoms such as headaches.
The government has advised that high-risk contacts should remain in their homes.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government has formed 19 core committees to coordinate all measures. Volunteer teams have been formed by the local self-government to help provide basic necessities to people who are isolated.
The brain-damaging virus has killed two people in Kerala so far.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ms Veena George said the state was aiming for “proactive detection” of infection before cases were confirmed in laboratories. The health administration monitors clinical symptoms so that alerts can be issued in advance.
The state administration, Ms. George said, is focusing on early contact tracing of infected people and isolating those with symptoms.
Replying to a question in the Assembly today, the Health Minister said seven village panchayats – Atanchery, Maruthonkara, Tiruvallur, Kuttiyadi, Kayakkodi, Villyapalli and Kavilumpara – in Kozhikode district have been declared containment zones. Creating containment zones is part of the state government’s strategy to contain the spread of infections.
Education Minister V Sivankutty has also directed the Director of Public Instruction to organize online classes for students of all schools in the containment zone so that they can attend classes from home.
What is the Nipah virus?
Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus and is transmitted from animals (such as bats or pigs) to humans. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people.
Fruit bats from the family Pteropodidae are said to be the natural host of Nipah virus.
What are symptoms of Nipah virus?
In infected people, Nipah virus causes a range of diseases, from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory disease and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause serious illness in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infected people initially develop symptoms such as fever, headache, myalgia (muscle aches), vomiting and sore throat. This may be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness and neurological symptoms suggestive of acute encephalitis.
Some people may also experience atypical pneumonia and severe breathing problems, including acute respiratory distress. In severe cases, encephalitis and seizures occur, leading to coma within 24 to 48 hours.
Incubation period of the Nipah virus
According to the WHO, the incubation period (interval from infection to the onset of symptoms) is believed to range from 4 to 14 days. However, an incubation period of up to 45 days has been reported.
Most people who survive acute encephalitis recover completely, but long-term neurological disorders have been reported in survivors. About 20% of patients are left with residual neurological sequelae, such as seizures and personality changes. A small number of people who recover subsequently relapse or develop delayed encephalitis.
The mortality rate is estimated at 40% to 75%. This percentage may vary from outbreak to outbreak, depending on local epidemiological surveillance and clinical management capabilities.